A teacher is a teacher is a teacher. Style varies, personalities vary, subjects vary, students vary, and so on. Anyone can be a successful teacher. A degree in education does not necessarily make a person a successful teacher. The question then of what makes a successful “online” teacher is the same as what makes a successful “onground” teacher. The main difference is that the online teacher must know how to effectively use all available technology.
According to Illinois Online Network, a successful online instructor is a facilitator of learning. In the article, criteria were listed for successful online facilitators. Then it continued with a list that students of the online learning experience should expect from the facilitator with one of these being that the facilitator should be online everyday (5 to 7 days).
www.ion.uillinois.edu/resources/tutorials/pedagogy/instructorProfile.asp
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5 comments:
You could stir up a hornets nest with this on in a teacher's lounge. I have to admit that upon reading this the first time I was prepared to adamantly disagree. I had to read back through a couple of times before I changed my mind. While I don't believe that anyone can be a successful teacher, I do agree that a teaching certificate doesn't automatically make you one. What makes a good 'onground' teacher is the ability to engage students, which is the point that you were making with online teaching. I also have to admit that I have some good online teachers who are technophobes. The tools nowadays are so simple to use that the technology stumbling block has gone by the wayside. The problem is that too many teachers still think they have to be geeks to teach online. It takes me months to get a new teacher started, then I seldom have to work with them again. I was wondering if you had experienced the same?
Thanks for your comments, Dallas. I am one of three teachers at my school and I am the "teckno" as sad as that is. I am struggling with trying to teach myself and get something started that will be somewhat consistent on a daily basis.
And you are right about the "anyone can be a successful teacher" comment. I should have explained that a little. I meant parents teach, coaches teach, bosses teach, etc. Some do well at conveying knowledge and some do not. I did not mean everyone has the potential to be a successful teacher.
This comment was so key: The main difference is that the online teacher must know how to effectively use all available technology.
To be honest, I have been teaching online for almost 8 years now, and I STILL find it hard to stay on top of all the technology tools at my disposal. Not only must I learn how to use them (skill), but I must also figure out how to use them effectively to support learning (the art of teaching). I believe teachers, and online teachers (that term won't even exist several years from now), have a lot of mandates and pressure to stay current. I've also come to the point where I know I'm doing the best I can as an educator, and that no one is an expert in everything any longer. There is just wayyy to much to know. Actually, I take comfort in this fact as it relieves the stress. So, I've learned to create community as one approach to staying continually up-to-date on the latest and greatest--hey, we can all learn from each other, what a concept! :)
Pam,
I'm sure that now that many teachers have adopted online teaching, either in full-online or hydrid course mode, they are rediscovering what you stated in your contribution: not all students are good online students; not all teachers are good online teachers. Those teachers who have taken the plunge, however, all pretty much seem to agree with the comments in an article by Charlie Jacobs, PhD at: https://dvc.hfcc.net/itcneews/000194.htm, which I've summarized below...
1) Good online teacher needs to be good classroom teacher
2) Must be organized
3) Be technologically competent
4) Be able to communicate effectively in writing
5) Be willing to commit a lot of time
6) Responds to student inquiries in a timely manner
7) Explains in detail expectations and assignments
8) Be creative
9) Be aware of resources and how to use them
10) Be able to rethink/redesign your course to fit the online environment
11) Be flexible
12) Be willing to go to training.
Based upon my experiences in learning to conduct online teaching over the last 8-9 months, I can concur with every one of Dr. Jacobs' comments, but would add extra emphasis on 6). Nothing seems to give students a bad attitude toward a course than an instructor that doesn't respond quickly.
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